Base station controller and method for restricting access

Abstract

In a base station controller for controlling the operation of a base station for executing call control which permits a connection in response to a connecting request from a radio terminal, when a stop instruction of the call control of the base station is received, the number of radio terminals which can be connected to the base station is decreased and thereafter the call control is stopped, and when the call control of the base station is restarted, the number of radio terminals which can be connected to the base station is increased.

1. A base station controller configured to control the operation of call control of base stations, the call control permitting or denying a connection in response to a connecting request from a radio terminal, the base station controller comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive instructions, wherein said instructions include at least one of a stop instruction to stop the call control of a base station; and a restart instruction to restart the call control of a base station; and 
 a control unit configured:
 to stop the call control of a first base station, and to change a base station of a radio terminal from said first base station to a second base station different from said first base station, after said receiving unit receives a stop instruction to stop the call control of the base station, wherein a process for stopping the call control includes a process for not permitting a hand-off of the radio terminal to the first base station, and 
 to change the base station of the radio terminal from said second base station to said first base station, and thereafter permit a new connection between another radio terminal and said first base station, after said receiving unit receives a restart instruction to restart the call control of the base station. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A controller according to  claim 1 , wherein said control unit increases, gradually with time, the number of radio terminals which are permitted to be newly connected to said first base station, and thereby permits the new connection of another radio terminal to said first base station. 
     
     
       3. A controller according to  claim 1 , wherein a process for stopping said call control includes a process for setting to zero the number of radio terminals which are permitted to be newly connected said to said first base station, thereby not permitted any new radio terminal to be connected. 
     
     
       4. A base station controller configured to control the operation of call control of a base station, the call control permitting a connection to a radio terminal in response to a connecting request, the base station controller comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive instructions, wherein said instructions include at least one of a stop instruction to stop the call control of a base station, and a restart instruction to restart the call control of a base station; 
 a connection restriction unit configured to set a connection permission value specifying the number of radio terminals which are permitted to be newly connected to said base station; and 
 a control unit configured:
 to set the connection permission value to be smaller than a value preset by said connection restriction unit, transmit the smaller connection permission value to said radio terminal, and thereafter stop the call control, after said receiving unit receives a stop instruction to stop the call control of said base station, wherein a process for stopping the call control includes a process for not permitting a hand-off of the radio terminal to the first base station, and 
 to set the connection permission value to be larger than the value transmitted by said connection restriction unit at the time of stopping the call control of said base station, and transmit the larger connection permission value to said radio terminal, after said receiving unit receives a restart instruction to restart the call control of said base station 
 
 
     
     
       5. A controller according to  claim 4 , wherein before stopping the call control of said base station, said control unit transmits to said radio terminal the connection permission value set to zero by said connection restriction unit, thereby not allowing any connection. 
     
     
       6. A controller according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a hand-off restriction unit configured to set a hand-off permission value specifying a hand-off success ratio of the radio terminal which performs a hand-off to said base station, wherein before stopping the call control of said base station, said control unit sets the hand-off permission value to be smaller than the number preset by said hand-off restriction unit and transmits the smaller hand-off permission value to said radio terminal. 
 
     
     
       7. A controller according to  claim 4 , wherein when said receiving unit receives a restart instruction to restart the call control of the base station, said control unit increases, gradually with time, the number of radio terminals which are permitted to be connected to said base station. 
     
     
       8. A method for restricting access by controlling the operation of call control of a base station, the call control permitting a connection in response to a connecting request from a radio terminal, the method for restricting access comprising the steps of:
 setting a connection permission value specifying the number of radio terminals which are permitted to be newly connected to said base station; 
 after receiving a stop instruction to stop the call control of said base station, setting said connection permission value to be smaller than a preset value and transmitting the smaller connection permission value to said radio terminal, and thereafter, stopping the call control, wherein stopping the call control includes not permitting a hand-off of the radio terminal to the first base station; and 
 after receiving a restart instruction to restart the stopped call control of said base station, setting said connection permission value to be larger than the value transmitted at the time of stopping the call control of said base station and transmitting the larger connection permission value to said radio terminal. 
 
     
     
       9. A method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 after receiving the stop instruction to stop the call control of said base station, setting said connection permission value to zero and transmitting said connection permission value to said radio terminal, thereby not allowing any connection. 
 
     
     
       10. A base station controller according to  claim 1 , wherein a stop instruction to stop the call control of a base station is issued in order to enable maintenance to be performed on said base station. 
     
     
       11. A base station controller according to  claim 10 , wherein said maintenance includes software updating by an instruction. 
     
     
       12. A base station controller according to  claim 4 , wherein a stop instruction to stop the call control of a base station is issued in order to enable maintenance to be performed on said base station. 
     
     
       13. A base station controller according to  claim 12 , wherein said maintenance includes software updating by an instruction. 
     
     
       14. A method for restricting access according to  claim 8 , wherein a stop instruction to stop the call control of a base station is issued in order to enable maintenance to be performed on said base station. 
     
     
       15. A method for restricting access according to  claim 14 , wherein said maintenance includes software updating by an instruction.